NBA Draft Scouting: Jordan Hawkins
Hawkins is arguably the best shooter in the Draft and would provide a lot of utility for the Thunder
Physicals:
Height - 6’5
Weight - 195 lbs
Wingspan - 6’10
Jordan Hawkins is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and it is easy to see why. His ability as a shot-maker seems tailor-made for today’s league. With that being said, Hawkins’ game runs deeper than just outside shooting and his versatility on the offensive end of the floor makes him useful for most teams in the league.
At a basic level, Hawkins comes from a very good basketball background. He played high school basketball for DeMatha in Maryland, a powerhouse programme in the DMV area that has previously produced NBA players. Notable DeMatha alumni include Markelle Fultz and Jerami Grant.
At Uconn, Hawkins played for a coach in Dan Hurley who used a playbook similar to what you find in the NBA. Hurley is a strong proponent of ‘4 out, 1 in’ schemes and valued spacing more than what you would usually see from college coaches.
In college ball, coaches will use cuts and flares to the nail to break down zone defenses. Coach Hurley is different in that respect, he relies on pro-like actions such as drag screens and off-ball curls to break down opposing defenses. What this means is that Jordan should already be somewhat familiar with the principle of floor spacing.
The last point to note about Hawkins’ background is that his cousin, Angel Reese, plays collegiate basketball for the LSU Tigers. Reese recently won a national championship with the Tigers and is widely regarded as one of the best women’s college basketball players in the country.
As a player, you can see the blend of athleticism and feel within Hawkins’ game. Jordan’s work off the ball is arguably best in class. Hawkins is tireless in how he moves off the ball and between the actions called by Coach Hurley. You can rely on him to knock down looks off curls with ease.
Hawkins shot 39% from downtown last season on 7.6 three-point attempts per game. He was a high-volume, high-efficiency marksman from deep and these sort of players are difficult to find. His shots rarely came from standstill catch and shoot jumpers which make the statistics even more impressive.